• • • THE AFFIRMATIONS OF HUMANISM: II A STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES* We are committed to the application of reason and science to the understanding of the universe and to the solving of human problems. We deplore efforts to denigrate human intelligence, to seek to explain the world in supernatural terms, and to look outsicfe nature for salvation. We believe that scientific discovery and technology can contribute to the betterment of human life. We believe in an open and pluralistic society and that democracy is the best guarantee of protecting human rights from authoritarian elites and repressive majorities. We are committed to the principle of the separation of church and state. We cultivate the arts of negotiation and compromise as a means of resolving differences and achieving mutual under- standing. We are concerned with securing justice and fairness in society and with eliminating discrimination and intolerance. We believe in supporting the disadvantaged and the handicapped so that they will be able to help themselves. We attempt to transcend divisive parochial loyalties based on race, religion, gender, nationality, creed, class, sexual ori- entation, or ethnicity, and strive to work together for the common good of humanity. We want to protect and enhance the earth, to preserve it for future generations, and to avoid inflicting needless suf- fering on other species. We believe in enjoying life here and now and in developing our creative talents to their fullest. We believe in the cultivation of moral excellence. We respect the right to privacy. Mature adults should be allowed to fulfill their aspirations, to express their sexual pref- erences, to exercise reproductive freedom, to have access to comprehensive and informed health-care, and to die with dignity. We believe in the common moral decencies: altruism, integrity, honesty, truthfulness, responsibility. Humanist ethics is amenable to critical, rational guidance. There are normative standards that we discover together. Moral principles are tested by their consequences. We are deeply concerned with the moral education of our children. We want to nourish reason and compassion. We are engaged by the arts no less than by the sciences. We are citizens of the universe and are excited by discoveries still to be made in the cosmos. We are skeptical of untested claims to knowledge, and we are open to novel ideas and seek new departures in our thinking. We affirm humanism as a realistic alternative to theologies of despair and ideologies of violence and as a source of rich personal significance and genuine satisfaction in the service to others. We believe in optimism rather than pessimism, hope rather than despair, learning in the place of dogma, truth instead of ignorance, joy rather than guilt or sin, tolerance in the place of fear, love instead of hatred, compassion over selfish- I ness, beauty instead of ugliness, and reason rather than blind faith or irrationality. We believe in the fullest realization of the best and noblest that we are capable of as human beings. *by Paul Kurtz For a parchment copy of this page, suitable for framing, please send $4.95 to FREE INQUIRY, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, New York 14226-0664 free inquiry http://www.secularhumanism.org B EDITORIAL WOMEN AND 5 The Secular RELIGIONS Humanist • 30 The Awakening Prospect: of a Jehovah's In Historical free inquiry• Witness Perspective Diane Wilson Paul Kurtz OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2003 VOL. 23, NO.4 ISSN 0272-0701 34 Islam and the o P-ED Liberation of 9 The Day Women in the Religion Died Middle East Guy Harrison Azam Kamguian 12 Now Here's a 37 Acknowledging Bright Idea! Humanist Women Richard Dawkins Vern L. Bullough The Bright Stuff 39 The Real Danger 14 Behind the Daniel C. Dennett Christian Right Wendy Kaminer 15 Bush and the Theory of Moral Relativity Norene Kelly DEPARTMENTS 7 Letters 17 On Debating Massimo Pigliucci 18 Frontlines 42 Church-State Update . FEATURES Can State Funds Support Divinity WHO BEARS Studies? THE BLAME Tom Flynn FOR NAZISM? 43 World Report 20 The Great Islam: Cage It or Scandal Unravel it? Gregory S. Paul Bill Cooke - BOOK REVIEWS 44 Great Minds August Comte 51 Science and 53 The Atheist: Tim Delaney Religion-Are Madalyn Murray O'Hair They Compatible? By Bryan F. LeBeau 46 Applied Ethics Edited by Paul Kurtz Bill Cooke An Odd Crop of Stuart Jordan Agnostics 54 This Far by Faith Robert M. Price 52 Rescuing Reason: Executive Producer Dante James " A Critique of Norm R. Allen, Jr. .o.<n~<lbt' ~ 57 Humanism at PAilIj &URTZ~ , Anti-Rationalist wilt> /1'1" oWI./Oflc1<i1 , Large BARR\' KARR QriQ RAI\'Jfi', SA~Dnli Views of Science The Day the Charleston and Knowledge 56 Bruce Almighty By Robert Nola Universal Studios, 2002 City Council Walked Out Bill Cooke David Cooper Herb Silverman FI Editorial Staff FREE INQUIRY (ISSN 0272-0701) is published bimonthly by Editorial Board Editor-in Chief the Council for Secular Humanism, a nonprofit educational Paul Kurtz corporation, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, NY 14226. Phone (716) Robert Alley Editor 636-7571. Fax (716) 636-1733. 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